Northview High Announces Homecoming Court
October 3, 2024
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Northview High School has named their 2024 homecoming court.
Senior Maids
- Payton Daw
- Maddie May Driskell
- Mary Catherine Hughes
- Sophia Morris
- Lacey Sapp
- Lily Smallwood
Junior Maids
- Kate Beasley
- Riley Brooks
- Aakira Davis
- Noel Pugh
- Noel Pugh
Sophomore Maids
- Lacie Kittrell
- Mikayla McAnally
- Makayla Plato
Freshmen Maids
- Meeyah Lassiter
- Allie Penton
- Madalyn Pittman
- Avery Trawick
The homecoming queen will be named during a ceremony that begins at 6 p.m. Friday in Tommy Weaver Memorial Stadium on the Northview campus.
Pictured top: The 2024 Northview High School homecoming court. Front row: Payton Daw, Lilly Smallwood, Mary Catherine Hughes, Noel Pugh, Allie Penton, and Meeyah Lassiter. Back row: Mikayla McAnally, Lacie Kittrell, MaKayla Plato, and Maddie May Driskell, Lacey Sapp, Sophia Morris, Aakira Davis, Kate Beasley, Riley Brooks, Avery Trawick, Madalynn Pittman. Pictured below: The court from each class. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Senior Court. Payton Daw, Maddie Mae Driskell, Lacey Sapp, Sophia Morris, Lilly Smallwood, and Mary Catherine Hughes.
Junior Court: Aakira Davis, Kate Beasley, Noel Pugh, amd Riley Brooks.
Sophomore Court: Lacie Kittrell, MaKayla Plato, and Mikayla McAnally.
Freshman Court: Madalynn Pittman, Meeyah Lassiter, Allison Penton, and Avery Trawick.
Highway 164 Widening Project Nearly Complete; Pine Forest Paving Begins in Walnut Hill
October 3, 2024
A widening project on Highway 164 is nearing completion as a new resurfacing project gets underway on Pine Forest Road.
Highway 164
The $1.25 million Highway 164 project, funded by the Local Option Sales Tax, aims to improve safety along the dangerously narrow roadway by widening 2.16 miles. The first two phases were completed ahead of schedule, widening Highway 164 from Highway 97 to Green Village Road and from Green Village Road toward North Highway 29.
The final phase involves widening the portion on either side of North Pine Barren Road. Crews are completing paving and sodding work this week. The final thermoplastic striping and reflective pavement markings will be completed 14 -16 days after final paving, according to Escambia County.
Pine Forest Road
Crews are paving just under six miles of Pine Forest Road in Walnut Hill from Highway 97 to Arthur Brown Road. The project is expected to be completed by next week. Final thermoplastic striping and reflective pavement markings will be completed about 14 days after paving is complete. The project cost is approximately $1.3 million.
Pictured: Final paving on a Highway 164 widening project near Pine Barren Road. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Photo Gallery : Tate, Pace Dig Pink For Cancer Research
October 3, 2024
The Pace Patriots defeated the Tate Aggies Wednesday night in a “Dig Pink” game to support the Side-Out Foundation and their metastatic breast cancer research.
Pace won 3-0 over Tate: 25-18, 25-16, 25-23.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The Aggies will travel north on Monday to take on the Northview Chiefs in Bratt at 5:30 p.m. to being the final week of regular season play.
The Side-Out dedicates the majority of donations to their own metastatic breast cancer research. In addition to research, Side-Out allocates a portion of their funds to high-quality support services for cancer patients and their families, as well as college scholarships for students.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Felon Sentenced On Federal Drug Trafficking And Firearm Charges
October 3, 2024
A convicted felon from Escambia County has been sentenced to 22 years in federal prison on drug trafficking and firearm charges, according to the U. S. Department of Justice.
Willie Frank Gordon, 42, was convicted of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and federal supervised release violations.
The investigation and prosecution of armed drug traffickers – in this case by a repeat offender – is central to our mission to protect the public,” said Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.. “This sentence illustrates our shared resolve to keep our communities safe and the significant consequences associated with federal drug and firearm violations.”
On March 15, 2022, Gordon was arrested during a traffic stop for driving without a license. During an inventory search of the vehicle, law enforcement located a black backpack containing approximately 200 grams of methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl, and associated drug paraphernalia, along with a loaded, chambered pistol. Law enforcement also located a firearm holster in the glove box of the vehicle, three cell phones, and over $2,000 on Gordon’s person.
Gordon initially denied knowledge of the controlled substances and the firearm, but ultimately admitted to his possession of the items during an interview with investigators. Law enforcement also located surveillance footage of Gordon approximately 30 minutes prior to the traffic stop where he was observed carrying the black backpack to a vehicle before driving away.
Gordon’s imprisonment will be followed by 5-years of supervised release.
This conviction was the result of an investigation conducted by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the ATF.
UWF’s Canterbury Earns GSC Defensive Player Of Week Honors
October 3, 2024
University of West Florida sophomore safety Kamrin Canterbury has been named the Gulf South Conference Defensive Player of the Week.
Canterbury led the Argos with a game-high 16 total tackles, including seven solo tackles and nine assists. The St. Petersburg native also forced the fumble that led to a scoop and score touchdown by Byron Puryear.
Photo Gallery: Two Injured When Pickup Crashes Through Molino Home
October 3, 2024
Two people were injured when a pickup truck crashed through a Molino home Wednesday afternoon.
The crash happened about 3:20 p.m. at the intersection of Sunshine Hill Road and Molino Road. The driver of a pickup, a 54-yea- old Molino man and his passenger, were transported by Escambia County EMS to an area hospital.
The homeowners were home in a nearby room at the time of the crash, and they were not injured.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the man ran off the road and struck a ditch, causing his pickup to become airborne. Troopers are continuing their investigation.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
FDOT Plans Two Highway 29 Crosswalks In Century Following Fatalities, Injuries
October 2, 2024
There have been numerous pedestrians struck and killed or seriously injured in North Century Boulevard in the town of Century on the last several years. And now, the Florida Department of Transportation is planning safety improvements that will include two new crosswalks on the busy roadway.
The crosswalks are proposed for North Century Boulevard (Highway 29) north of Bradley Street, at the Century Food Mart, and the second is proposed about half a mile away just north of Pond Street. The Florida Department of Transportation will use federal funds for the project.
Plans for the crosswalks are about 60% complete. A construction timetable has not yet been finalized.
Each crosswalk will include a concrete divider in the median, signage and handicap accessibility features (pictured left).
Currently, the only marked crosswalk along the entire 3-mile length of Highway 29 in the town limits is at the corner of North Century Boulevard and West Highway 4.
There are no crosswalks near the Rudolph Street intersection where two Brewton women were struck by vehicles in front of a local restaurant in July 2023. Both passed away shortly after the accident.
FDOT organized a traffic study after a pedestrian was struck and killed in March 2021 while trying to cross North Century Boulevard just north of Pond Street (pictured below).
In May 2019, a 26-year-old woman was struck on North Century Boulevard, just south of the Century Branch Library. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, she was standing on the sidewalk and improperly crossed in front of the vehicle (pictured second below). The pedestrian was airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital as a trauma alert by LifeFlight helicopter. She also received a ticket from FHP for failing to yield to the oncoming vehicle because she was not in a crosswalk.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Beulah Middle FFA Members Make Dog Toys From Old T-shirts For Local Rescue
October 2, 2024
Beulah Middle School FFA members created over 75 dog toys Tuesday using old t-shirts.
The dog toys will be donated to A Place of Hope Small Dog Rescue in Escambia County.
Beulah Middle FFA Advisor Leanne Jenkins said the project started when officer Cheyenne Armstrong became proficient in making the dog toys from YouTube.
“Students brought old t-shirts in today and created the toys,” Jenkins said Tuesday. “Honestly, it’s the best FFA meeting we have had in seven years. They were so excited to serve!”
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Walnut Hill Veteran Paul Entrekin Honored During Auburn Football Game
October 2, 2024
Veteran Paul Entrekin of Walnut Hill was honored Saturday during the Auburn game last Saturday against Oklahoma at Jordan -Hare Stadium
Entrekin described the day as “surreal” and “beyond humbling”.
“Semper Fidelis and War Eagle,” he exclaimed.
Entreking graduated from Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1976.
Entrekin was commissioned as a U.S. Marine Corps officer in 1977 and designated a Naval Aviator in 1980. During his military career he became carrier qualified, flying both rotary-wing and fixed-wing aircraft. He was an instructor pilot until leaving active duty in 1986 and then retained reserve status with the Defense Intelligence Agency as a clandestine operative until retiring after Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm in 1991.
No stranger to the air show world nor pushing boundaries, Entrekin soon was nicknamed “The Bandit,” after becoming the first civilian pilot to own and fly a Russian MiG aircraft. He founded Entrekin Aviation as a full-time air show pilot in 1986. He holds multiple U.S. and world airspeed records and is recognized on the National Aviation and Space Exploration Wall of Honor.
He is a member of the prestigious Society of Experimental Test Pilots. He has flown more than 30,000 hours in over 50 types of rotary and fixed-wing aircraft, ranging from the UH-1N Huey and BD-5J microjet to the Boeing 777, and holds multiple U.S. and world airspeed records.
For 31 years, he has serve as the air boss of the Blue Angels Pensacola Beach Air Show.
[Read more: Walnut Hill Man Was The Boss Of The Pensacola Beach Air Show. Here's A Behind The Scenes Look.]
A defensive back, he played football as one of head coach Ralph “Shug” Jordan’s “Amazin’s” that defeated Paul “Bear” Bryant’s number 2 ranked (10-0) Alabama Crimson Tide in the 1972 Iron Bowl, by the score of 17-16. It has become known in the annals of SEC college football as the “Punt Bama Punt” game. The Auburn Tigers went 9-1 that year and finished 5th in the nation, ending the season with a Gator Bowl victory over the University of Colorado Buffaloes.
Entrekin also flew for Delta Air Lines for 30 years before his retirement, and over the years has authored a number of books including, “Mighty Hands,” his bestseller “Mr. MiG,” and his most recent children’s book entitled, “Jasper and the Christmas Faeries” set at his Walnut Hill ranch.
[Read more: New Children's Book 'Jasper and the Christmas Faeries' Set At Walnut Hill Ranch.]
Pictured top: Veteran Paul Entrekin of Walnut Hill was honored Saturday during the Auburn game last Saturday. Pictured inset: Entrekin with Auburn mascot Aubie. Pictured below: Entrekin and his wife Lisa. Pictured second and third below: Entrekin with Coach Hugh Freeze and Charles Barkley. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Schools Seek Public Input On School Calendar
October 2, 2024
Escambia County Public Schools is seeking input from students, parents, teachers, employees, community members, and other stakeholders as work begins to develop the proposed academic year calendars for upcoming school years.
Interested person was invited to take part in the process by reviewing the draft proposals and taking a brief survey regarding each proposal. Survey results will be analyzed and shared with the District Calendar Committee, composed of representatives from all stakeholder groups.
The surveys are available at the links below: